TY - JOUR
TI - Random nematic structures in the absence of inherent frustrations
AU - Cvetko, M.
AU - Lahajnar, G.
AU - Ambrožič, M.
AU - Abina, A.
AU - Puc, U.
AU - Cordoyiannis, G.
AU - Kralj, S.
AU - Kutnjak, Z.
AU - Zidanšek, A.
JO - Liquid Crystals
PY - 2015
VL - 42
TODO - 12
SP - 1674-1683
PB - Taylor and Francis Ltd.
SN - 0267-8292, 1366-5855
TODO - 10.1080/02678292.2015.1048484
TODO - null
TODO - We study the impact of anisotropic nanoparticles (NPs) on the nematic liquid crystal (LC) order. Within a mesoscopic Flory–Huggins-type approach we have estimated regimes where LC–NP mixtures are essentially homogenous. Using a lattice Lebwohl–Lasher type approach we have also studied the impact of anisotropic NPs on LC ordering. We analysed the cases where the orientations of NPs are either frozen-in or could be varied, to which we refer as random field mixtures and annealed mixtures, respectively. In the latter case we have demonstrated the existence of qualitatively different regimes. In particular, we determined the concentration regime, where LC configurations resembling a transparent nematic phase could be observed. Such domain patterns are stabilised by NPs hindering the annihilation of topological defects in LC order. © 2015 Taylor & Francis.
ER -